WIU officials release details about note, alert problems

Western Illinois University officials released details Thursday about a note that threatened there would be a shooting on campus.

Western Illinois University officials released details Thursday about a note that threatened there would be a shooting on campus.

The note, which was found in an off-campus apartment complex’s drop box early Wednesday morning, was read during a news conference held by the university. It read “There will be a shooting today all around campus. Make the right decision. Bang. Bang.”

Robert Fitzgerald, the director of WIU’s Office of Public Safety, said that the actual letter or copies will not be released because the original will probably be sent to the state crime lab in Springfield for handwriting analysis.

The university also announced that some people did not receive alerts from an automated warning system until an hour or two after the alerts had been sent.

Dana Bierbaum, assistant vice president for administrative services, said the problem was believed to be with phone service providers that are not local taking longer to send messages. According to Bierbaum, only 70 percent of phone calls and e-mails were successful. The alert is set up to send a text message, an e-mail message and at least one phone call to a number listed for each person who signs up for the system.

Classes resumed Thursday, but many students chose not to walk the campus, making for a somber, rain-soaked environment with only a noticeable police presence walking the sidewalks and monitoring residence halls. Extra police will be on campus Friday as well.

A reward fund has been set up for information about who wrote the note.

Macomb Journal reporter David Torbert contributed to this report.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.